Is Ebay a safe place to buy paints?

Please don't shoot me for asking...

I was on the 'bay today and noticed that there are some decent deals on Snaz 18ml pots there. By good deal I mean the sellers are offering free shipping for them and not charging much over the SF cost. I'm trying to build my 'arsenal' but the shipping quotes are killing me! 3 pots were going to cost me $7 to ship...seriously? I appreciate any insight into this matter.

I apologize in advanceif I'm not supposed to mention the E-place here.

Try the Forum Shop for Snaz. Free shipping AND trustworthy source. The link is center top of the page.

Surely there are retailers in Cleveland that carry Snaz? Several of the hobby/party store chains carry it, a lot of costume shops, etc.

There are a few that are a lot further out from me, and they price their items like they have a monopoly on the market. The one I went to...I'm not to proud to admit...sold me an 18ml white cake for $15.00 and a mini 8-color kit for $19.95. I still fume when I think about the fact that I got taken for so much because of my ignorance. It wasn't until I came here and discovered the forum shop and SF that I realized that I'd been raked over hot coals.

So the shipping is free for EVERYTHING here? I thought it was just for small items (books and such). Well...I may have to rethink my strategy....

Thanks for the response ladies, for a second I thought I'd been branded with the scarlet "E" for mentioning the 'bay.

I bought my brother a Transformer off e-bay once...

I would hesitate to buy any kind of make-up from a non-retail operation though as you don't know if it was used, mis-handled...

Thanks Shannon,
I did notice people selling their used make up there...which reeeaaalllyyyy made me itch! That's just ...well...it's just....(insert proper word of disgust)!!

The seller I'm looking at sells only FP/Body Art stuff and says all of the stuff id new and factory sealed. She has a few hundred auction items for different brands so she's not bagain bin reselling IYKWIM. I just don't know that it's not old (if FP stuff can get 'old'). I'm sure you can see how a newb like me would be tempted to dive in. I'm a crafting packrat who likes to have lots of supplies...it's a vice..

Well, I'm going on vacation in a few days so I'll just think on it till I get back.

I've been badly burned buying stock - OLD make-up/face paints are not good to use. They are so dry that the won't absorb water at all and are not able to be used. And I bought from a store that was the main stop for theatrical make-up in a major city.

I purchased some Snaz paints on eBay once. They were new and factory sealed. I was very happy with them. But I would prefer buying them someplace else. To me eBay is just an unncessary hassle, unless you really can't find it anywhere else. And there is always some risk of getting an inferior product. I wouldn't buy any face paints from eBay unless it came with a money back guarantee.

I don't mind buying form Ebay, but often there is no receipt with it. Something I need to have if it should be including in the companies account. Else I have to buy it with my private money, and that is more expensive because of the Danish tax laws (I have to pay 50% tax before I can get the money myself, but not if I buy products through my company). It's complicated..
But the short version is that often it is not worth if, if I can buy the products from a real store somewhere else. But have often gotten something there, and I have never experienced worth quality than I expected. Something I have tried from real makeup shops (especially Dauphines.co.uk!)

If you like snaz and have a michaels in your city, you can just use the 40%-50% off coupons that are online all of the time and buy the paints that way. I got 2 sets one primary and one pastel/sparkle for around 5 bucks each. The package says each set can do 50 full faces. If thats true I am running at 10 cents per face. I think. Math is not my forte'. Hope this helps.

Yeah, I got a few of those way back...right after I'd posted the OP. I was hoppin' mad to find the same kit I'd paid $20 for for $12.99 at Michaels.

Your lucky. Our Michaels only carry snaz during halloween. What out for shipping and handling when buying from ebay.

I've bought quite a bit of makeup on the 'bay. It's usually Mac or other eyeshadows/lip colors... but if it's new, then I see nothing wrong with buying fp on there.